Posted by MikeT23 on 3/28/2017 8:48:00 AM (view original):
Yes, player option is best.
5x20, 10 bonus, p-option, NTC is a max deal.
Are you in a hitter's park?
The p-option and NTC are
not actually part of a max deal, despite an old developer chat suggesting they are. A max deal is 5x20, 10 bonus. If you're losing, the old team is involved or the combined pitching IQ of your currently signed pitching and bullpen coaches totals less than someone else who has offered 5x20 +10.
I've confirmed this through personal experience with max contracts and also through direct ticket exchanges, and the knowledge base entry (#761) also has no mention of p-option or NTC.
The relevant portions of the ticket exchange (#123103):
The offer/clause does not get included into the tie-breakers, but if a player is requesting it, and one team doesn't offer the option/clause, the player is going to sign with the team that met all of his demands.
...
A mutual option or team option reduces the value of the contract from the player's point of view.